Abdominal supporter



(N0 Mdel.)

0. K. PARRINGTON.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER. 7 No. 365,805. v Patented-July 5, 1887.

Jazz/ M ?y I. PETERS, Pham-Limn m her, Washington. D. (L

UNITED STATES CLEOPATRA K. FARRINGTON, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,805, dated July 5,1887.

Application filed Scptember26,1882. Serial No. 72,771. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern."

Be it known that I, CLEorArRA. K. FAR- RINGTON, of Everett, county ofMiddlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement inAbdominal and Spinal Supporters, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

Abdominal and spinal supporters as now commonly found in the market arecomposed of many different materials; but in the majority of them ametal spring of some sort is depended upon to produce the desiredpressure upon the person. These metal springs, covered chiefly withleather, are objectionable for many reasons; and one object of my i11-vention is to obviate the use of a metal spring.

My invention consists in an abdominal and spinal supporter composedentirely of hard indiarubber, it having sufficient strength andelasticity to firmly clasp the body of the wearer, and designed moreespecially for ladies wear.

Figure 1 represents in side elevation an abdominal and spinal supporterembodying my invention, and Fig. 2 a front view thereof.

The abdominal part of my improved ab dominal and spinal supporter isshown as composed of the curved bars a b and part c, the latter havingthe concavity c and the projection 0" at each side to cover thoseportions of the body where ruptures are commonly found. Extendedbackward from this abdominal portion, and forming an integral portion ofit, are the two long elastic arms d 6, the portions 4 of which areinclined in opposite directions and curved to fit the hips and sides ofthe body, while the rear ends of the said arms, extended down, over, andalong the back of the wearer, are provided at their lower ends withsuitable pads, f g, to bear upon the back, each side of the spinalcolumn. In the present instance of my invention the padsf g are madeseparate from the arms d e and attached by screws h, the heads of whichmay receive the usual leather strap by which to hold the rear ends ofthe supporter in place on the body. If desired, the pad to bear upon theback may be molded as parts of the arms (Z c. The abdominal part and itstwo elastic arms is composed of a single piece of hard indiarubber,shaped, as shown, to fit the person; and to make the same light, and atthe same time as cool as possible, I have made the slots 3 2, and haveprovided the india-rubber with numerous fine holes.

I am aware that hard indiarubberhas been used in trusses; but I am notaware that a supporter having double arms to extend about the body, asherein shown, has ever had its arms made of india-rubber alone, sucharms having heretofore been made of steel.

I am further aware that it is old to make a steel truss having such armsjointed or attached to each other by a rivet in front and connected infront by transverse bars to cross the abdomen.

I am alsoaware that it is old to perforate truss-pads of hard rubber.

- I claim-- The improved article of manufacture herein shown anddescribed, the same consisting of the curved bars a b and part c,separated by slots 3 2, the arms (Z a, curved as shown at 4, andprovided with pads f g, the said parts a, b, c, d, and 6 beingperforated with numerous fine holes, which, with the slots, serve togive lightness and Ventilation to the device, and the whole constructedof hard rubber and constituting a combined abdominal and spinalsupporter, for use as set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

OLEOPATRA K. FARRINGTON.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, 13. J. NoYEs.

